Patent GB-671631-A (GB)
Title: A combined tumble action washer and squeezer extractor
IPC: D06F23/02
Filed: 1950-08-01
Abstract: 671,631. Washing machines ; wringers. AVCO MANUFACTURING CORPORATION. Aug. 1, 1950 [Aug. 20, 1949], No. 19231/50. Class 138(ii). In a combined washer and extractor comprising a suction collapsable liquid and airtight container and mechanism for removing liquid and air from the container creating a substantial partial vacuum within the container to collapse the container on clothes contained therein to extract liquid therefrom by pressure existing outside the container, the container is mounted for rotation on a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis, thereby to operate as a tumble-action washer and the mechanism is adapted to permit withdrawal of liquid and air from the container during the rotation thereof. In the arrangement shown, a collapsible liquid and air-tight bag 12 of rubber or the like is mounted in a rotatable frame 11 within a suitable cabinet 10. The frame 11 is closed by a disc 14 rotatably mounted on a door 15 and is formed with baffle-forming members 19 to which the bag 12 is secured and which effect a tumble-action on the contents of the bag during rotation thereof. The frame 11 is mounted on a hollow shaft 23 from which it is continuously driven through a belt and pulley from a pump 41, which is driven through a belt and pulley by an electric motor 33. The shaft 23 communicates with the interior of the bag 12 and with a vacuum release valve chamber 43 to which hot or mixed water is directed by the pump 41 from hot and cold water supply lines 35, 36 and a thermostatically-controlled mixing valve 34. The valve 34 is provided with suitable flow control means to ensure a given amount of water to the bag 12 in a given time, and is operated by a solenoid 37 or 38. The valve chamber 43 comprises a solenoid 44, which when energized during tumble-action washing, permits the pressure inside the bag 12 to be equalized by air entering or leaving the bag. An over-flow tube 49 is directed to a drain hose 50. At the end of the washing operation the connections to the pump 41 are changed by a pair of three-way valves 53, 54, actuated by solenoids 51, 52 to draw water and air from the bag 12, which collapses inwardly under external atmospheric pressure. The vacuum release valve 43 is then actuated to admit air into the bag 12 to expand the latter to its original position within the frame 11. Subsequently, two rinsing operations are effected, during each of which rinse water is admitted to and withdrawn from the bag 12 by the means described above, the final rinse including a longer extraction period in order to remove the maximum amount of water. The solenoids 37, 38, 44, 51 and 52 and the motor 33 are controlled by cams driven by an escapement and timer motor, Fig. 9 (not shown), and a control dial, Fig. 8 (not shown), enables the cams to be advanced manually to any predetermined point in the washing and rinsing cycle. Each cam controls a switch contact in the circuits to the solenoids, timer motor and motor 33 respectively. A selector switch permits alternative actuation of hot water solenoid 37 or mixed water solenoid 38.